SHAH ALAM - "Have you tried riding the LRT3? Is it okay?"
A short Facebook post from incarcerated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak drew a flood of replies from commuters sharing their own LRT3 experiences, many thanking Najib for the project while flagging teething issues on the new line.
The brief post, likely composed by his admin, has drawn more than 9,200 likes, 831 comments and 124 shares since it was published on July 4.
"Already rode it. Thank you DSNR. But the train coaches are too short," wrote Ikhram Tazhudinov.
Sarinah Abdullah wrote: "Thank you Dato Seri Najib Razak. The Sultan of Selangor also gave credit for Bossku's idea - even though it took a while to complete, the people are happy to finally be able to ride it."
Lee Seng Poh described a packed and slow-moving service: "Crowded, long waits and not enough seats. I stood for nearly an hour on the train because I gave up my seat to senior citizens. Still, the LRT3 has been a great help to residents around Klang and Shah Alam. Thank you very much.
"I hope the government can add more coaches, from three to four. Also, the seven new train sets announced a few days ago look insufficient. It's sad that the original plan for 42 sets was cut to 22 by the previous administration," Lee posted.
Another user, Shahrul Nizam, had the opposite complaint, jokingly said that he already rode the LRT3 and it was ‘very fast’, that he barely got a seat before arriving at his destination.
Meanwhile, user Mohd Asri Abu Bakar said he was unable to board due to overcrowding.
"Packed with people, disappointed I couldn't board earlier. If only the original plan under Bossku had gone ahead, maybe it wouldn't be so crowded. Coaches went from six to three and intervals from three minutes to seven and a half minutes. Either way, Bossku's contribution will always be remembered. Thank you Bossku!"
Najib is currently serving a twelve-year sentence over the SRC International case and is awaiting the outcome of related 1MDB matters.
The post comes days after Najib recalled the LRT3's launch in August 2016 in a separate social media post around June 29, describing it as an example of the Barisan Nasional government prioritising public interest over political differences.
The Shah Alam Line LRT3 began operations on July 28, connecting Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang across twenty stations, with interchanges to the Kajang and Kelana Jaya Lines.
The project was originally launched in August 2016 under Najib's administration, with an initial cost of RM31.65 billion later reduced to RM16.63 billion in 2018.
The project was delayed by more than eighteen months following the change of federal government in 2018 and by a further nineteen months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During that period, station sizes were reduced, the number of train coaches cut and five proposed stations along the alignment were cancelled.
Deputy minister addresses coach capacity concerns
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat on June 29, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the 2018 cost-cutting decision would not lead to overcrowded coaches during peak hours.
He said platforms currently accommodating three-coach trains had been designed for four coaches following an earlier study reducing them from six, leaving room for expansion by 2030 when a second phase adds five more stations and seven more train sets.
Hasbi added that the line has the capacity to carry an estimated 223,560 passengers a day, or about 6,210 passengers per hour per direction.
Sultan of Selangor thanks Najib and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah previously expressed his appreciation to Najib for heeding his call to build a rail link connecting Klang, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur.
His Royal Highness also expressed gratitude that Anwar, after assuming office as Prime Minister and Finance Minister in 2022, reinstated five stations that had previously been cancelled and proposed the development of affordable housing near LRT3 stations to enhance public convenience.